China’s AI Hiring Surges as Industry Pivots to Practical Applications

Job openings for artificial intelligence roles in China surged nearly eightfold in the first seven months of 2026, driven by an industrywide shift from training foundational models to deploying commercial applications, according to a report released Wednesday by professional networking platform Maimai.

Postings across new-economy sectors jumped 789.5% year-on-year, while average monthly salaries for newly listed positions edged up 2.7% to 63,160 yuan ($9,406). Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen led in overall AI listings, but secondary hubs recorded the steepest growth, with postings in Hefei jumping 1,570.4%.